Lahore/Multan: India has once again released water into the Sutlej River, prompting Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources to issue a fresh flood alert. The Indian High Commission formally notified Islamabad about the release, officials confirmed.
According to the ministry, low-level flooding has been recorded at Harike and Ferozepur headworks along the Sutlej. However, water levels are continuing to rise, raising fears of worsening conditions in the coming days.
This development follows a similar release just a day earlier, after which the government had already put flood management agencies on high alert.
In Multan, authorities have decided to deliberately breach the Shershah dyke this afternoon to ease mounting pressure from the rising waters. Residents of Shershah Basti, Khokhran Basti, Gagran Khanpur, and Qazian have been directed to evacuate immediately to safer locations.
Multan’s Chief Police Officer (CPO) said the breach would be created mechanically rather than through explosives, due to the presence of nearby populations. He added that areas along the Chenab River are already inundated, and rising pressure is being observed at both Akbar and Shershah dykes.
Officials further warned that more than 500,000 cusecs of water from Trimmu headworks is expected to enter Multan’s limits within the next two days, which could affect additional settlements.
